amlodipine/benazepril vs spironolactone
Side-by-side comparison of amlodipine/benazepril and spironolactone. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
Potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone, amiloride, triamterene, and others) or potassium supplements can increase the risk of hyperkalemia. Potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone, amiloride, triamterene, and others) or potassium supplements can increase the risk of hyperkalemia.
Recommendation: Your doctor may need to check your blood potassium levels often or adjust your doses.
Lotrel
Aldactone
Lotrel is a combination medicine that contains amlodipine and benazepril. It is used to treat high blood pressure.
Spironolactone is a medicine that helps remove extra fluid from your body and lower blood pressure. It also helps your heart work better if you have heart failure.
Lotrel is used to treat high blood pressure. It is for people whose blood pressure is not controlled well enough with just one medicine (either amlodipine or benazepril alone). This medicine helps to lower blood pressure, which can reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Spironolactone is used to treat heart failure by reducing fluid build-up and helping you live longer. It also treats high blood pressure, which can lower your chance of having a stroke or heart attack. This medicine can also manage fluid build-up caused by liver problems or a kidney problem called nephrotic syndrome. It can also treat a condition where your body makes too much of a hormone called aldosterone.
Lotrel contains two medicines that work in different ways to lower blood pressure. Amlodipine relaxes and widens blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. Benazepril lowers blood pressure by preventing your body from making a substance that narrows blood vessels.
Spironolactone belongs to a class of drugs called aldosterone antagonists. It works by blocking the effects of aldosterone, a hormone that causes your body to hold onto salt and water. By blocking aldosterone, spironolactone helps your body get rid of extra fluid and salt, which lowers blood pressure and reduces strain on the heart.
- • Cough
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Swelling (edema)
- • Breast enlargement in men
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- Tiredness 15,696
- Diarrhea 14,038
- Feeling sick to your stomach 13,425
- Shortness of breath 13,222
- Feeling lightheaded 10,671
- Difficulty breathing 10,389
- Tiredness 8,179
- Feeling sick to your stomach 7,818
- Loose stools 7,416
- Sudden kidney damage 6,785
This medicine can harm your unborn baby or cause death. If you become pregnant, stop taking Lotrel and tell your doctor right away.
Spironolactone can cause your potassium levels to get too high, which can be dangerous. Your doctor will check your potassium levels regularly, especially if you have kidney problems or are taking other medicines that can raise potassium. This medicine can also cause low blood pressure or make kidney problems worse. Tell your doctor if you have side effects.
Do not take Lotrel if you are pregnant. It can cause serious harm to your unborn baby, especially during the second and third trimesters. If you are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
Spironolactone may affect the sex organs of a baby boy if taken during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if spironolactone passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking this medicine.
How to Read This amlodipine/benazepril vs spironolactone Comparison
amlodipine/benazepril is classified in the Calcium Channel Blocker / ACE Inhibitor Combination drug class, while spironolactone sits within the Potassium-Sparing Diuretic / Aldosterone Antagonist class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, amlodipine/benazepril has 67,052 submissions while spironolactone has 40,587. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both of these medications can cause your body to hold onto potassium instead of flushing it out. this can lead to dangerously high levels of potassium in your blood.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between amlodipine/benazepril and spironolactone - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.